Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-24
A DAY OF BLOOD.

n 18TH OF June was a bright summer
day. Our party in the jail were making
merry with games and songs, utterly I'M
suspicious of immediate injury. But one
Of Il number, looking out of the Win
dow, saw a squadron of cavalry approach
ing and called attention to it. There was
nothing unusual about this, for VIC often
noticed bands of troops on the streets;
but they nov halted ct our gate and sur
rounded our prison. This was unusual
and startling.
The doors down stairs opened. We
heard the shuttle Of feet in the hall and
the clink of officers sabers as they
assembled the stairway. We held our
breath in painful attention, while they
paused at our door, unlocked and threw
1t open, n then one of the number,
stepping before the others, read the names
OF the seven tried at Knoxville. They
were ordered to respond and stand in a
line before him, which they did. Robin
son was sick with fever. but a guard as
sisted him to rise, and he stood with the
rest. Then they were all told to follow
over into the opposite room, while the
Tennesseeans there were brought in re-
turn to us.
With %throbbing hearts we asked one
another the meaning of these strange pro-
ceedlngs. Some supposed our comrades
We're about to receive their acquittal;
others. still more sanguine, that they
would be paroled, preparatory to an ex-
change. But We had no confidence in
these suggestions even while we made
them. II would not have been necessary
to surround the prison for such purposes:
and the faces Of the officers who had en-
tered II room We're solemn and stern.
l was sick, too, having suffered Il good
deal recently with malarial fever, but
rose to my feet oppressed with linutter-
abb fear-the most deadly I ever rcmem-
Der feeling. y half witted fellow who
had been put in with the Tcnnesseeuns
came to me and wanted to play a game of
cards! ! had been fond of the game, but
never played it after this day. Now |
struck the greasy pack from his hand and
babe him leave me-.
From over the way we heard the sound
Of voices, muffled and indistinct because
OF the two iron doors between: then the
opening and shutting of doors, the passage
OF several persons up and down the stair
way, II last the sound as of solemn
reading.
a little while after-I cannot Judge of
the length of time spent in such fearful
agony-the ministers in the other room
think it must have been more than an
hour-the door opened and our comrades
came back. one by one: but the change in
them was feaSful. My gown friend, George
ID. Wilson, was leading, his step firm, his
form erect, but his hands firmly tied, and
his face pale as death. What is it,
some one asked in a whisper, for his ap-
peararcc silenced every one.
we are to be executed Immediately
was the appalling reply, given in a low
tone, but with thrilling distinctness. The
others followed him into the room, all
tied ready for the scaffold. The officers
were standing in the door, and barely
granted them the privilege of taking us
once more by the hand before death.
Then came the farewells. hopeless in this
world. 1t was a moment that seemed an
age of measurcless, heart breaking sorrow.
What had occurred in the other room
Willie we We're separated? The narrative
of the ministers will make that plain.
Rev. W. j. Scott was requested by Col.
q. j.. Foreacre, then provost marshal in
Atlanta, to visit some Federal prisoners
at the city Jail who We're about to die. On
his way Mr.. Scott called on Rev. George
G. n. MacDoneli and asked him to GO
along. At the Jail they We're taken into
the room where our comrades were.